Our first CAP day has finally arrived, the day all of us have been waiting for. Our morning went off to a little slow start, considering we were all a tired from the day before. After breakfast, our lovely guagua took us to the beautiful city of Guanito where we dove straight into gathering the right materials for the manual labor. I was part of one of the two small groups that visited a couple different homes while the other group went shopping for the other materials that couldn’t be found inside of community members homes. Being welcomed into the homes of the community members has to be one of the best feelings in the world, I didn’t really know anything about the owners of these homes, yet they greeted me with a hug that could’ve been for a loved one.

After gathering all the necessary tools from the community, we began working. The intense sun beat down on all of us, causing our groundwork to grow a little harder. Nothing our glimpsers couldn’t handle. However, with all of the factors making our work more tiresome, we persevered. We all know that this project goes towards something profoundly important, maybe one of the most meaningful projects we’ve ever had so far. With this being said, our passion for this community project overpasses any kind of struggle that we may feel while constructing the court.

I think it’s safe to say that the locals have captured all of our hearts indefinitely. They make our time in Guanito meaningful and gives us the strength to push forward. I am grateful for being welcomed with open arms, considering the language barrier and not even knowing each other’s names. The love they give each and every one of us is honestly indescribable.

 

As leader of the day, a lot of the glimpsers called me a “nervous wreck”, and I really can’t blame them. The responsibilities that I had as LDD today were a little tougher than I expected, I didn’t want anyone to feel dehydrated or pushed past their limit. My tactics were all in good spirit, asking repeatedly if they had drank enough water and re-applied sunscreen and bug-spray. Fortunately, all of us were able to leave Guanito safe and satisfied (and a little exhausted.)

 

My next task was to safely lead our group to the school where we teach our amazing students English, this meant stopping at every crossroad with a stop sign and “threatening” glare to stop the motorcyclists and other vehicle drivers. My GGL’s were really supportive and told me to look at the walk as a workout, which kind of helped. Towards the end, I grew a greater appreciation for the people who volunteered throughout the day, they really made my day easier and knowing that they didn’t have to any of the things they volunteered for put an emphasis on what it looks like to be generous.

My experience as a leader today changed my perspective on how much work our leaders have and why we should all appreciate them every day. Being a leader isn’t easy, but it can lead to satisfaction and being less self-conscious about the actions you take within a group. It also led me to appreciate my group more, they supported me when I wasn’t sure what do next and listened to when I had to make an announcement. I am looking forward to the next CAP delivery days and creating a deeper connection with the locals.